“Wheel of Fortune” Contestant Shocks Viewers with Cheesy Puzzle Blunder: ‘Worst I’ve Ever Seen’

"She'll never be able to show her face in New York or Philadelphia from now on," one social media user joked

A Wheel of Fortune contestant has gone viral for her "cheesesteak" blunder.

On the Monday, Dec. 30 episode, Gaelyn Nease from Tallahassee, Florida, appeared to be poised to win big as she faced off against fellow contestants Carmetta Wells from Los Angeles, California, and Mike Tomani from Rochester, New York.

Nease correctly guessed multiple letters in a puzzle in the ‘Food and Drink’ category, according to Today, leaving the board to read: "NE _ / _ OR _ / _ HEESE _ A _ E."  However, when she attempted to solve, she mixed up two very different iconic cheesy foods.

"New York Cheesesteak," Nease said before Wells swooped in with the correct answer: “Cheesecake.”

Related: Wheel of Fortune Contestant Goes Viral After He Suffers Hilarious Fail: 'We Had a Little Missolve'

Wells went on to win a trip to New York City, including a VIP ticket to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

She also walked away from Wheel of Fortune $68,250 richer, while Tomani amassed $17,700 and Nease ended up with $2,000.

Fans of the show shared their dismay at Nease's answer on social media.

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“A new all-time horrible answer,” one viewer wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), alongside a clip from the show.

“I was watching. Worst I’ve ever seen 'live' on TV," one person replied, while a third added, “Game shows are hard but yes that should’ve been gotten."

Related: How Do You Become a Contestant on Wheel of Fortune?

The incorrect answer also became a topic on the Wheel of Fortune subreddit.

One Redditor described it as “painful” to watch, while another confessed they “cringed so hard.”

“I don't understand how... I'm still in disbelief. She'll never be able to show her face in New York or Philadelphia from now on,” another person added.

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In November 2024, another contestant on Wheel of Fortune went viral after giving an incorrect answer to the puzzle “Give yourself a round of applause.”

There were just a few letters missing on the Monday, Nov. 11 episode, when the contestant mistakenly said “Treat yourself a round of sausage," per a clip shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).

His fellow contestant guessed the puzzle correctly, but host Ryan Seacrest jokingly confessed, “Will, I kind of like yours better.”

Will later revealed to the show's social correspondent, Maggie Sajak, 29, on Instagram that he had a “little missolve” after getting starstruck.

"I tell you, when the lights are on, and you know, the stars and Ryan Seacrest, Vanna White... I just went blank," he said.